Nigeria: Allegations of extortion surface in awarding fixed licenses

ALLEGATIONS of extortion in awarding of fixed telecommunications licences are a major concern in Nigeria, as the west African country embarks on advanced telecommunication and mobile phone technology.

According to the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, several companies are being affected by cases of extortion and indiscriminate imposition of levies in the awarding of licences.

This, said Adebayo, was threatening efficiency in introducing the much awaited telecommunications technology to most parts of the country, among other entities, the local municipalities and states and local government, as such actions were retrogressive.

“We are primarily concerned that immense efforts of our members at this time to deal with the challenges of improving quality of service in the industry, by engaging in massive rollout of equipment and infrastructure, is currently being undermined by the various arbitrary and indiscriminate charges, fines and levies at different levels of government,” said Adebayo.

He said his organisation, ALTON, was taking the claims of extortion seriously, arguing that if the allegations were true, that would reverse the gains and advancement achieved to date in the country, especially those realised by the Nigerian Information and Communication Technology sector.

ITNewsAfrica.com, Lagos